An extra deck park still required spare aircraft

Did British carriers keep aircraft on deck in addition to their hangar complement?

They could, but combat losses and unserviceability often left too few aircraft to fill an additional deck park.

Deck-park aircraft could be additional to the hangar complement. In practice, that depended on having enough aircraft to fill both. Enemy action reduced the air group, while unserviceable machines also cut the number available. Extra deck space therefore did not guarantee an extra operational aircraft complement.